Fuzzy-logic on board device for monitoring and processing motor vehicle operating data

ABSTRACT

A fuzzy-logic on-board device for motoring and processing motor vehicle operating data comprising a on-board network connector, a front-end device, a CPU, an integrated store, a power management system and a peripheral device interface connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic built-in on-boarddevice, of a fuzzy-logic type, which has been specifically designed formonitoring, storing, processing and clustering data related to theoperation of motor vehicles said device is applied to.

[0002] The involved data can comprise parameters related to theoperation of the motor vehicle in general, or an operating sub-systemthereof.

[0003] As is known, a very important requirement to be met in the motorvehicle and/or maintenance field, is that of providing on-board systems,specifically designed for collecting and processing data related to theoperation of the motor vehicle, to optimize the system size andspecifications of the single components of the motor vehicle and monitortheir operation depending on their actual use.

[0004] Prior technologic solutions to meet the above mentionedrequirements, provide a low processing capability, require a lot ofpreset parameters and dedicated sensors, to be properly installed on themotor vehicle.

[0005] Said prior systems are moreover affected by further drawbacks:for example they continuously record operating additional data, toprovide redundant data packets, or preset sampling frequencies andtimes, which are fixed and/or limited by the store size requirements,thereby cannot be considered as fully autonomous, since a continuousmonitoring through the overall operation time, or an implementation ofdedicated or specifically designed sensors on the motor vehicle arerequired.

[0006] Moreover, a specifically designed connecting system is alsorequired, thereby the motor vehicle on-board electric system must beproperly modified to derive therefrom the power supply for themeasurement and sensor system.

[0007] The above negatively affects the reliability of the motor vehicleand monitoring system thereof.

[0008] A further drawback to be also considered is the high cost of thestoring system, sensors, managing medium and control units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide suchan electronic device adapted to overcome the above mentioned problems,i.e. to properly record and process operating data of the motor vehiclethe device is installed on, and cooperate, in a fully compatible manner,with onboard networks and systems, as well as properly poll electronicdedicated control units (ECU's) controlling motor vehicles.

[0010] The above mentioned aim is achieved by an electronicmicroprocessor control unit, and a related software procedure,providing, based on fuzzy-logic principles, a full analysis of saidoperating data for deriving therefrom statistic index arrangements,thereby providing a control unit having a fully autonomous operatingdata managing capability.

[0011] Such an inventive control unit or device, in particular, can beintegrated on the on-board ECU's, so as to process data of said ECU'sand provide said ECU's, in an interactive manner, with control dataflows.

[0012] Thus, the invention provides a lot of useful applications, suchas:

[0013] an identification of the user type, to optimize the designing ofthe motor vehicle and sub-systems thereof; a monitoring of the ageingstatus of the motor vehicle components, such as: tires, dampers,lubricating oil; an optimization of the motor vehicle use (which wouldbe very useful for motor vehicle like that which could be performed by afleet control applications) to provide information about the motorvehicle wear conditions useful on used motor vehicle market; apossibility of easily performing any derived risk analysis to be used byinsurance companies for optimizing the cost rate and providing ratesavings; and a recording of data related to the last operation of themotor vehicle, to provide diagnostic functions and the like.

[0014] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a further object ofthe present invention is to derive in real time data related to themotor vehicle use mode from a plurality of on-board sensors coupled torespective dedicated electronic control units or ECU's, for providingintegration and full compatibility with on-board networks, andachieving, from the thus processed data, a so-called “DNA”, i.e. astatistic parameter array, providing a synthetic operation framecharacterizing the use pattern of the motor vehicle.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to statisticallyprocess, in a fully autonomous manner, all the operation data and toreturn to the on-board ECU's further operating data related to motorvehicle sub-system operation.

[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such adevice which is very reliable and safe in operation.

[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such adevice which is very advantageous from a mere economic standpoint.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the abovementioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which willbecome more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a fuzzy-logic on-boarddevice for monitoring and processing motor vehicle operating dataaccording to the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent hereinafter, from the following detaileddisclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof,which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative,example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a constructional and functional block diagram of thedevice according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow-chart related to the software algorithmimplemented in fuzzy logic;

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates a possible diagram of using store meansincluded in the device according to the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4 illustrates a device according to the invention appliedoutside of a motor vehicle;

[0024]FIG. 5 illustrates a device according to the present inventionapplied inside or on-board of the motor vehicle;

[0025]FIG. 6 illustrates a possible application of the device accordingto the present invention in replacement of an ECU;

[0026]FIG. 7 illustrates a circuit diagram for coupling the deviceaccording to the present invention to further auxiliary devices;

[0027]FIG. 8 illustrates an electric circuit used in the deviceaccording to the present invention: and

[0028]FIG. 9 illustrates a principle diagram of a fuzzy filter asimplemented by the subject operating algorithm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] With reference to the number references of the above mentionedfigures, the fuzzy-logic on-board device for monitoring and processingmotor vehicle operating data, according to the present invention, andwhich is generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises anon-board network connector 8, a front-end device 6, a CPU 3, anintegrated store 4, a power management system 11, and a peripheraldevice interface connector 2.

[0030] The CPU 3 is preferably a microchip, PIC16F877P model,microcontroller, operating to adjust and control the data flow and storerelated control data in store means of the device according to thepresent invention as well as process the acquired data flow analysisalgorithms.

[0031] The integrated store 4 preferably comprises a commerciallyavailable RAM store, of a 64 Kbyte static type, including buffer orbackup battery means.

[0032] The front end device 6 comprises preferably BJT transistors, of aNPN type, indicated by Q1, Q2, Q3, and at least a MOS transistor, and isdesigned to match the electric level characteristics of the motorvehicle on-board networks the device according to the invention iscoupled to, which networks can be of a CAN, TTP, or a direct connectiontype, for example a K-line.

[0033] The power management system 11 preferably comprises an integratedstabilizer power regulating device of a 7805 type, which is powersupplied through the on-board network connector 8 and the inlet line 10,directly from the vehicle power supply circuit and operates to providethe front-end device 6, CPU 3 and store 4, with a regulated orstabilized 5-volt power supply, through the power supply lines 12.

[0034] As shown the CPU 3 is connected through a bus 13 to the front enddevice 6 and, through a further bus 14, to the store 4, said bus 14comprising a 8-bit data bus, a 4-bit control bus, and an at least a16-bit address bus.

[0035] The front-end device, CPU 3, integrated store 4, power supplylines 10 and 12 and buses 13 and 14 are assembled on a single controlcard 7, of a printed circuit type to which said connector 8 is coupledthrough the lines 9 and 10, and said interface connector 2 is coupledthrough the coupling line 5.

[0036] Thus, this very simple circuit together with the small capabilitystore means necessary for processing data can be easily implemented infully integrated form, thereby greatly reducing the size of theinventive device, which can be integrated on a single chip, and directlyassembled in a conventional ECU, designed for motor vehicle use.

[0037] Thus, such an integrated on-board device can process operatingdata by a novel process, to be disclosed hereinafter, thereby alsoimproving the control method of the motor vehicle single subsystems.

[0038] The control method for processing information from the sharednetwork (CAN or TTP network) or from the direct connection (K line) isshown in FIG. 2, and is related to an information field which can beconsidered as included in an artificial intelligence field pattern, inparticular of a so-called “genetic algorithm construction”, similar to amethod for generating and selecting solutions in animal or vegetablespecies.

[0039] More specifically, the inventive method comprises two reiteratingcycles, one nested into the other.

[0040] The inner cycle of said cycles provides DNA genes, whereas theouter cycle selects said genes according to a fuzzy logic, collects twoof the most similar DNA's, updates them and stores the method results.

[0041] In our application field, said genes represent statisticparameters, whereas a DNA essentially represents a parameter matrix anda synthetic frame, defining a user type or a motor vehicle use typecondition.

[0042]FIG. 3 shows a possible procedure of mapping the store means tostore therein said genes and their DNA combinations.

[0043] The columns indicated by the reference numbers 22, 23, 24, 25represent store portions allocated for the DNA's.

[0044] The shown DNA's are all defined by eight genes.

[0045] The definition of a DNA is characterized by the structurethereof, and not by its contents.

[0046] The rows indicated by the reference numbers 26 and 27 comprisediscrete DNA genes and represent multidimensional statistic parameters,for example clustered distributions.

[0047] The rows 28 and 29 comprise simple unidimensional distributinggene examples, whereas the row 30 comprises parametric genes, such asaverage values or standard offsets thereof.

[0048] Each DNA is constituted in the gene generating step, i.e. inperforming the innermost reiterating cycle of the method, for evaluatingdata based on statistic parameters to be formed.

[0049] An essential parameter of this dynamically patterned method stepis the condition to be applied for exiting the inner reiterating cycle,i.e. the so-called end-off-cycle condition, which sets that particularsituation for which the DNA can be considered as fully formed.

[0050] For example, if it is necessary to typicize the motor vehiclekinematic use, then a gene can be represented by a clustered speed andacceleration distribution, and the end of cycle condition could be thejoined condition of zero speed and low temperature of the engine.

[0051] As the innermost reiterating cycle arrives at an end of cyclecondition, the genes are started to be filtered, according to selectivecriteria set by a fuzzy inference system, to clean the gene “image” fromthe zero-interest regions.

[0052] Then, a further analysis is performed to perform a dataclustering operating step.

[0053] This means that, as indicated by the reference number 32, a novelDNA is formed and associated, as an additional information, with theDNA's in the remaining part of the store, i.e. the store portion 31.

[0054] The herein provided use of a fuzzy logic derives from therequirement of filtering genes in a quick, direct and flexible manner,to determine a continuous weight function in the measured data domainror in a data linear combination domain, without performing transforms.

[0055] As is known, the calculation complexity greatly increases incalculating a transform operator, and an optional reverse transformoperator, or anti-transformation operator, for performing domainchanges.

[0056] Thus, since the invention allows us to remain in the data domain,it is advantageously possible to perform a clean windowing of genes, toprevent non interesting domain regions for negatively affecting theDNA's processing verification steps.

[0057]FIG. 9 shows a conceptual diagram of the application of thefuzzy-logic filter, in which, as a gene, a clustered motor vehiclespeed-acceleration distribution has been selected.

[0058] For enhancing the region characterized by a zero acceleration itis sufficient to fuzzyfy the respective speed 71, acceleration 72 andweight 74 function of the rule assembly 73 defining the fuzzy inferencethe filter function structure is derived from the obtained weightfunction will be a normalized function, the value of which would bealways included between 0 and 1, since it is a speed and accelerationfunction.

[0059] Upon detecting the most-similar DNA's, the data processing methodwill cluster them by generating a new DNA, as obtained for a weightcombination of the two most similar DNA's.

[0060] Then the statistic parameters associated with the new DNA areupdated, by clustering weight and dispersion values of the DNA's whichhave generated them.

[0061] Thus the device according to the present invention will also saveinformation related to the DNA weight, and dispersion and sequencethereof, i.e. the changing DNA sequence in the monitoring period.

[0062] As a latter method step, the device 1 continuously provides aprocessing weight for a new operating cycle to form a new evolving DNApattern considering that motor vehicle makers conventionally use aconnector 40, the so-called OED or EOBD, or other like connector, forinterfacing with the outside of the motor vehicle shared networks, andaccessing the on-board electric system for communicating with an outerunit the diagnostic information through the shared networks or directconnections, FIG. 4 shows a typical architecture of the on-boardelectronic systems, in which the ECU's 33, 34, 36, 38 are coupled to oneanother through the shared network 35 or direct connections 37.

[0063] The device 1 of the invention can be coupled in a fixed manner,as shown in FIG. 5, to become an integrating portion of the on-boardelectronic system and operate as an analyzer of the motor vehicle modeof use, to either provide the performed analyses to the other ECU's 33,34, 36, 38 to take required strategic decisions, or it can store theanalysis results in its store means for performing yet other subsequentanalyses.

[0064] Alternatively, as is shown in FIG. 1, the device 1 can beinterfaced, while preserving the same capabilities, with sensors andactuators in replacement of any desired dedicated ECU's of a motorvehicle specific subsystem, while providing useful parameters foridentifying the motor vehicle modes of operation, to further enhance theparameters the conventional control procedures are based upon.

[0065] For example, the device can be used for improving an ABSarrangement operation, by adding to its standard parameter set the motorvehicle tire wearing condition.

[0066] Moreover, the device can also be applied to change the motorvehicle engine control procedures based on the use driver of the engineto minimize the fuel consume and pollution, or provide informationrelated to the wear condition of mechanical members or enginelubricating oil.

[0067] As stated the connector 2 provides connection with optionalperipheral devices, for example an outer auxiliary processing unit 68for sharing and plotting data, such as a personal computer or a palmardevice, or, as shown in FIG. 7, a radio transmitter 60 or a wirelessunit including an antenna 59 or an Ethernet adapter 65 for LAN networks,or other similar devices, of a standalone pattern, or associated withdedicated nets.

[0068] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that theinvention fully achieves the intended objects.

[0069] The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to severalmodifications and variations, all coming within the scope of theinventive idea.

[0070] Moreover, all the constructional details can be replaced, thecircuitry architectures included, by technically equivalent elements.

[0071] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as thecontingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

1. An on-board electronic device, of a standalone and fuzzy-logic type,for monitoring and processing data related to a use of motor vehicles,characterized in that said device comprises an onboard network connector(8), a front-end device (6), a CPU (3), integrated store means (4), apower management system (11) and a peripheral device interface connector(2).
 2. An electronic on-board device, according to the preceding claim,characterized in that said CPU (3) is a microchip microcontroller, of aPIC16F877P type.
 3. An electronic on-board device, according to claim 1,characterized in that said integrated store means comprise a 64 Kbytestatic RAM memory, provided with a buffer or auxiliary store.
 4. Anelectronic on-board device, according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid front-end device (6) comprises BJT transistors and/or a MOStransistor, to connect said device, through an on-board networkconnector (8) to a motor vehicle inner network such as: CAN, TTP ordirect connections on a K-line.
 5. An electronic on-board device,according to claim 1, characterized in that said power management system(11) comprises an integrated 7805 stabilizer device, power suppliedthrough said connector (8) and an inlet line (10) directly from a motorvehicle power supply circuit providing said front-end device (6), CPU(3) and integrated store means (4) with a 5 volt regulated power supply,through power supply lines (12).
 6. An electronic on-board device,according to claim 1, characterized in that said CPU (3) is connected,through a bus (13), to said front-end device (6) and, through a furtherbus (14), to said integrated store means (4).
 7. An electronic on-boarddevice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said front-enddevice (6), CPU (3), integrated store means (4), power supply lines (10,12) and buses (13 and 14) are assembled on a single printed circuitboard card (7).
 8. An electronic on-board device, according to claim 1,characterized in that said device is connected, through said on-boardnetwork connector (8), to said motor vehicle inner networks therefromsaid device receives data which are processed, in real time, by said CPU(3) according to an algorithm using fuzzy logic filter functions andclustering storing data in gene and DNA forms and determining anautomatic identification of a use mode of said motor vehicle.
 9. Anelectronic on-board device, according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid integrated store means (4) are mapped into genes (26-30) and DNA's(22-25) and store multidimensional, unidimensional statistic parametersor simple values.
 10. An electronic on-board device, according to claim1, characterized in that said device, for processing said data, providesa generation and evolvement of said genes and an unification of saidDNA's through artificial intelligence algorithmic instruments.
 11. Anelectronic on-board device, according to claim 10, characterized in thatan algorithm used for processing said data implements at least tworeiterative nested cycles, i.e. an inner cycle for providing said genesand building said DNA's, and a selection outer cycle based on a fuzzylogic of said genes, and performing an unification of two most similarDNA's of said DNA's in a store portion (31) of said store means (4),updating said DNA's and storing (32) of a result of said DNA processing.12. An electronic on-board device, according to claim 1, characterizedin that said fuzzy logic provides to filter said genes in a directmanner in a domain of measured data, by fuzzyfying said genes (71, 72)and a weight function (74) by fuzzy rules (73) for deriving normalizedfilter functions and starting gene functions.
 13. An electronic on-boarddevice, according to claim 1, characterized in that said device iscoupled, through said on-board network connector (8), to a connector(40) of an OBD or EOBD type, for interfacing the motor vehicle innernetworks with an outside of said motor vehicle.
 14. An electronicon-board device, according to claim 1, characterized in that said deviceis fixedly applied in said motor vehicle by fully integrating saiddevice in an on-board electronic system, including ECU's (33, 24, 36,38) coupled to one another through a shared network (35) or directconnections (37).
 15. An electronic on-board device, according to claim1, characterized in that said device is directly interfaced with sensorsand actuators, to provide enhanced operating parameters includingstatistic parameters defining, use procedures of motor vehiclesub-systems.
 16. An electronic on-board device, according to claim 1,characterized in that said interface connector (2) provides connectionswith optional peripheral devices, such as an outer auxiliary processingunit (68), radio transmitters or wireless devices (60) including anantenna (59) or an Ethernet adapter (65) for LAN networks.
 17. Anelectronic on-board device, according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid interface connector (2) is coupled to said printed board circuitcard through said coupling line (5).
 18. An electronic on-board device,according to claim 1, characterized in that said on-board networkconnector (8) is coupled to said printed board circuit card (7) throughsaid coupling lines (9, 10).
 19. An electronic on-board device,according to claim 1, characterized in that said device is made inintegrated technology and mounted on-board of said motor vehicle.